Council adds 13th Avenue mill-and-overlay and drain tile to 2025 improvements and adopts preliminary levy

Councilors and staff debated storm-sewer priorities and funding during discussion of the preliminary 2025 budget. Staff said the 13th Avenue corridor likely needs a Mill‑and‑overlay plus drain tile and pump hookups, and provided a high‑level cost estimate of about $200,000 for that full scope. Council discussed that current levy budgeting included roughly $65,000 toward these CIP items and considered financing options including piggybacking the work onto the larger North‑side project to gain construction efficiencies.

After discussion about timing, contingency and possible impacts to the larger project schedule, a council member moved and the council approved a motion directing the city engineer to return with an agreement and cost estimates so 13th Avenue and associated drain tile work could be incorporated into the 2025 improvements if feasible. Council also discussed preliminary levy parameters: staff noted the preliminary levy in the record as 4.7% and presented the adoption motion; council moved, seconded and adopted the preliminary levy resolution by unanimous voice vote (the resolution number is unclear in the spoken record).

Staff stated that incorporating 13th Avenue into the larger project could reduce per‑unit costs but also acknowledged schedule and seasonal constraints; staff suggested the city could finance a portion via the general levy or interfund loans if needed and would use storm‑sewer fee revenue where applicable. Council asked staff to produce formal cost estimates and a proposed agreement for the next meeting so the council could finalize 2025 project lists and budget allocations.